Scots drummer launches £70k plea in effort help him achieve dream of becoming a “world class musician”

A SCOTS drummer has launched a £70,000 GoFundMe appeal as part of a plea in efforts to help him achieve his dream of becoming a “world class musician“.

Ben Gentil has recently been offered a scholarship to study a four year music performance degree at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts.

The 17-year-old musician secured his place after wowing the college in an audition earlier this year.

However, the course is set to cost Ben £70,000 for his first year alone as the Scottish government do not provide tuition funding or access to student loans for study in the USA.

Ben, from Haddington, East Lothian, has been drumming since the age of seven, and aims to become a “world class musician” through the teachings in the prestigious college course.

Despite having a weekend job, a competitive scholarship and help from his family, Ben is still aiming to raise the additonal funds through the GoFundMe campaign set up last week (WED).

Writing on his GoFundMe page Ben said: “A few weeks ago, I received the amazing news that following my audition, I have been successful in securing a scholarship to study for a four year music performance degree at Berklee College of Music in Boston, USA.

“Berklee is like the Oxford/Cambridge/Ivy League of music and getting accepted to Berklee is a massive achievement for me.

“I have definitely worked incredibly hard for it…but I’m still a long way from being able to go.

“In Scotland, the government do not provide tuition funding or access to student loans for study in the USA and the total required for my first year at Berklee is £70,000.

“My parents have always encouraged me with my music and are helping as much as they can financially (in fact more than I am comfortable with) in the same way that they support my brothers.

“I have already raised £23,500 with a competitive scholarship, family support and my own savings but there is still such a huge shortfall, and I am now needing to fundraise the additional £46,500 required for the rest of my tuition, accommodation, health insurance, travel and equipment.

“I would also like to try to show you that I have the talent, focus and commitment to make everyone who supports me proud.

“After two years of practising in my house in lockdowns, 2022 has been a great year for me to get out and perform with jazz/folk/rock/country music bands and orchestras.

“Unusually for a drummer, in April I won 2nd place in the formal Scottish Young Musician of the Year competition for my county playing Living Color and Biffy Clyro and I scored a distinction and 100/100 on my most recent Trinity national exam.

“I also got 5As in my Highers last year so I hope this proves that I work hard on the academic side too. My teacher wrote for a reference recently that my ‘study and work ethic is at the highest level’.

“At 17, music is even more of a fascination for me than it was when I first picked up drumsticks in a piano lesson 10 years ago.

“Aged 7, I asked my piano teacher if I could ‘play with those sticks over there’, and now I literally can’t imagine my life without drums.

“Experimenting with set ups to create different sounds, adapting my equipment and researching interesting styles and techniques is something that I am naturally driven to do.

“I really want to be a world class musician, and this is the best shot I have at developing a uniquely Scottish style of music with other young musicians from across the world.

“All support, whatever amount, is hugely appreciated as I would be truly gutted if I fail to raise the required funding.”

Speaking today (TUE) Ben said: “I applied to Berklee because I follow a lot of great musicians who have studied there.

“I love playing live with my bands and I enjoy lots of different types of music – jazz, rock, funk, folk, fusion, metal – and I am really excited about creating music with people from all different backgrounds.

“I worked really hard for the audition, and I thought it had gone well, but I honestly didn’t believe it when the offer of a 50% scholarship came through.

“I still can’t believe I have a place at one of the best places to study music in the world.

“Studying in the USA is very expensive, and my focus is now on doing everything I can to make it possible for me to go”.

If Ben were to achieve his funding goal, he would be following in the footsteps of great musical alumni at Berklee College such as Brad Whitford, Quincy Jones and Howard Shore.

Speaking today (TUE) Ben’s mum Jackie, 51, said: “I’m obviously so proud of Ben and everything he has achieved.

“We would never have believed that 10 years on, our noisy and busy seven-year-old would have the opportunity of an international music career.

“He often practices for hours a day and you can see the sheer enjoyment he gets from playing. After his teenage lockdown years, it is fantastic to watch him out performing in front of live audiences again.

“Berklee was a dream for him that is now one step closer and his potential has been recognised with the fantastic scholarship he has won.

“He has set up his GoFundMe page to share his story and we will continue to work hard as a family on looking for further foundations, awards and sponsors that might be able to help him.”

At the time of writing, Ben has raised £2,530 of his goal and is striving to reach his target in the coming months.

You can donate to his GoFundMe page at this link: https://gofund.me/79290137